Delhi Rains News: The NDRF team on Saturday morning recovered the bodies of labourers on Saturday morning from under the rubble of an under-construction wall in Delhi’s Vasant Vihar area. The wall had collapsed due to the heavy rains in Delhi-NCR on Friday. On the other hand, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu assured that proactive measures are being taken following the canopy collapse incident at the Delhi Airport. He announced that a war room has been set up to arrange refunds or alternate flights for affected passengers. The Minister also promised to implement necessary steps to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Delhi-NCR rains, weather forecast Live Updates: Check real-time updates on damage caused amid heavy rainfall in the National Capital
Anant Kumar, former PWD engineer-in-chief, commented on Delhi's 228 mm rainfall, stating, that the city's drainage system is outdated and cannot handle such capacity. With the growing population, an integrated master plan is needed.
Five Indian Army soldiers lost their lives in an accident while attempting to move a tank across a river in eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Saturday. Expressing his sorrow in a post on X, Singh stated, "Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh. We will never forget their exemplary service to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief."
The city remains under an orange alert until July 2. The IMD has advised people to check for traffic congestion, avoid waterlogged areas, and stay away from power lines or electrical wires. It also recommends staying indoors and avoiding travel if possible in its impact-based forecast for Delhi-NCR. On Saturday, the Safdarjung Observatory predicted a generally cloudy sky with moderate rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds.
#watch | Severe waterlogging witnessed at the basement area of AIIMS, Delhi. pic.twitter.com/5C6niuugLf
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2024
Rima Dada, AIIMS Media Protocol In-Charge, explained that heavy rain caused significant waterlogging at AIIMS hospital, particularly in the Trauma Centre's basement where critical equipment like heavy generators are housed. As a result, OT operations were temporarily halted, although four life-threatening surgeries were successfully performed. The hospital's Director and Additional Director assessed the situation, but operations were further disrupted by an NDMC power outage, forcing OTs to remain closed until 4 PM. Once power was restored, surgeries resumed throughout the night. Efforts are ongoing to clear the waterlogging, with the AIIMS Trauma Centre's OT still awaiting clearance from Electrical Engineers before operations can resume.
The national capital experienced extremely heavy rainfall, potentially the highest for June in nearly a century. Following a meeting with L-G V K Saxena, PWD Minister Atishi revealed that Delhi usually sees around 800 mm of rain during the entire monsoon season, but this time, it received 228 mm within just 24 hours—something unprecedented since 1936. In response, the L-G directed the establishment of a 24X7 emergency control room and mandated that desilting operations be finished within a week.
Following Delhi's record-breaking single-day rainfall since 1936, widespread waterlogging has underscored critical infrastructure challenges. The root causes, as highlighted by senior PWD officials and experts, include fragmented departmental oversight, lack of coordination, inadequate infrastructure, flawed design, and rapid urbanization. A significant factor is the delay in implementation of the 'Drainage Master Plan', which stalled due to issues like plan rejection and poor tender responses. Compounding the issue, 11 different agencies manage roads and drains independently, leading to confusion and inefficiencies. For instance, mismanagement of the Barapullah drain, uncertain which department oversees it, results in overflow exacerbated by improper discharge of domestic sewer water. This mismanagement leads to flooding on roads, exacerbating the city's drainage woes.
The Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector-25 metro station reopened its entry and exit gates on Saturday, following a closure due to heavy rainfall, as announced by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The station's gates had been shut on Friday due to the rain, along with the suspension of shuttle services between Aerocity station and Delhi airport's Terminal 1 station. In an update early Saturday, DMRC confirmed the resumption of normal operations at Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector-25 metro station for both entry and exit.
Five Army personnel were swept away in flash floods near Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. The mishap reportedly took place in the Daulat Beg Oldie area of Ladakh during a tank exercise of crossing the river yesterday in the sector due to a sudden increase in water levels there.
Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was noted as 'moderate' with a reading of 108 at 9 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. For context, an AQI of 0-50 is classified as 'good', 51-100 as 'satisfactory', 101-200 as 'moderate', 201-300 as 'poor', 301-400 as 'very poor', and 401-500 as 'severe'.
Rain continued to affect parts of Delhi on Saturday, following the heaviest monsoon rainfall in 88 years. Areas like Rohini and Burari saw rainfall this morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted generally cloudy skies with heavy rain throughout the day. Delhi's minimum temperature was recorded at 28 degrees Celsius, with a maximum expected to reach around 32 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels are at 80 percent.
A breach and back-flow of water at the Barapullah Drain, a key water basin in the National Capital, is being blamed for causing flooding in several areas of South, South East, and New Delhi. A senior PWD official stated that despite completing 80% of the city's drainage desilting, the Barapullah Drain overflowed due to the downpour. This caused back-flow, leading to severe waterlogging as the drain, which usually releases water into the Yamuna, couldn't handle the spike in water levels.
Deputy Commander NDRF Ajit Kumar today said that the rescue operation went on for about 23 hours and now the dead bodies of the labourers have been recovered.
The heavy rain on Friday morning severely disrupted medical services across the city, reportedly causing widespread surgery postponements at AIIMS and Lok Nayak Hospital. At AIIMS, approximately half of the scheduled surgeries were canceled due to waterlogging in critical areas like the trauma center and Cardiothoracic Neurosciences Centre (CNC), where electrical panels are housed.
Following yesterday's collapse incident, flight operations from Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 have been moved to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.
Ramesh Kumar, a taxi driver, lost his life in yesterday’s airport incident, while eight others were injured. Another driver, 28-year-old Santosh Yadav, narrowly escaped. After dropping a navy officer at the airport around 5 am, Santosh was waiting for another officer when the roof suddenly collapsed. He and the officer ran for their lives, but a concrete piece hit Santosh's head. Santosh, who works for Sakshi Travels, received first aid at Medanta hospital and was later sent to Safdarjung Hospital. He was discharged around 2 pm and returned to his home in Lado Sarai.
At least 5 individuals lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Delhi on Friday. The downpour, marking the highest single-day rainfall in June in 88 years, caused severe flooding, traffic chaos, and left many commuters stranded. Streets were heavily waterlogged, resulting in long traffic jams. Among the deceased was a cab driver killed when a canopy at Delhi's IGI airport collapsed on cars. Flight operations at Terminal 1 were suspended. The tragedy sparked political blame games, with the BJP and Congress accusing each other for the structural collapse.
Regarding the canopy collapse at Delhi Airport's Terminal 1, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu described the incident as tragic and assured that the situation is under control. Terminal 1 has been closed, and flight operations have been moved to Terminals 2 and 3. Passengers with canceled flights are being offered refunds or alternative flights, with a promise to process refunds within seven days. War rooms have been established at Terminals 2 and 3, and airlines have been instructed not to hike airfares. To prevent such incidents in the future, a special team from IIT Delhi's structural department has been brought in for an initial inspection, and all airports nationwide have been asked to submit structural inspection reports within 2-5 days.
At least three children lost their lives and five others were injured on Friday evening when an under-construction wall collapsed in a village in Surajpur locality of Greater Noida, as per media reports. It is suspected that the heavy rain earlier in the day could have weakened the wall's foundation, leading to its collapse later that evening.
According to ANI, so far, the bodies of two of the three laborers have been found. The search and rescue operations for the remaining laborer are still ongoing.
Heavy rain on Friday morning caused waterlogging all over the city, messing up traffic and disrupting daily life for everyone. At Indira Gandhi International Airport, a section of the roof at Terminal 1 collapsed. The Delhi Fire Services reported that the incident happened around 5:30 am, leading to one death and injuring eight others.
At least three laborers were believed to be trapped after an under-construction wall collapsed in Vasant Vihar due to heavy rain on Friday in the national capital. The situation worsened as two trees also fell into the basement pit, where temporary huts for the laborers were located. Rescue operations are underway by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and the fire department, with teams working to rescue anyone trapped under the debris.
The National Capital is expected to receive heavy rainfall today. In fact, Delhi is expected to receive 'very heavy rainfall' until July 1. Similar weather patterns can be observed in areas including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Read Full Forecast Here - Weather Update: Heavy rainfall likely in Delhi today; IMD issues orange alert for Uttar Pradesh, Hayana and THESE states
NDRF team recovers a body in Vasant Vihar area of Delhi where an under-construction wall had collapsed due to heavy rainfall on Friday.
VIDEO | #delhi: NDRF team recovers a body from the rubble of an under-construction wall that collapsed in Vasant Vihar area yesterday amid heavy rains.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 29, 2024
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/FrxEthVjkC
Operations at Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 have been suspended indefinitely following a fatal roof collapse.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu announced on Friday that an investigation into the canopy collapse at Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 has commenced, and experts will be brought in to assist.
The incident occurred early Friday morning following heavy rain, which caused a portion of the canopy at Terminal 1 to collapse, resulting in one fatality and several injuries.
"An investigation has begun. We will also involve experts from the department to examine the situation. Action will be taken based on the forthcoming report," Naidu told ANI.
"Reviewed the waterlogging and flooding situation in Delhi due to heavy pre-monsoon rains with HoDs. PWD, I&FC, and DJB under GNCTD, MCD, and NDMC were directed to take immediate steps to ease the situation and strictly implement measures to prevent recurrence," said Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena on X.
Criticizing the government, he added, "It is shocking that the Flood Control Order and de-silting of drains, which should have been completed by June 15, are still pending. The Flood Control Order, normally issued after the Apex Committee meeting chaired by the Hon'ble CM, is pending with the Hon'ble Minister."
The Delhi Police have registered a first information report (FIR) under sections 304A (death by negligence) and 337 (causing hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code.
Police stated that they will conduct an investigation to determine the causes behind the structure's collapse and to hold accountable the agency and individuals responsible for its maintenance.
1. Emergency Control Room: Establish a 24x7 emergency control room, staffed by senior officials from all relevant departments.
2. Publicity: Widely publicize the control room number for citizens to report incidents of waterlogging.
3. Pump Functionality: Test and ensure functionality of all static pumps from PWD, I&FC, MCD, DDA, and NDMC, with field staff deployed 24x7 to operate them.
4. Mobile Pumps: Deploy mobile pumps as needed and procure additional pumps for low-lying areas, especially unauthorized colonies and underpasses prone to waterlogging.
5. Desilting Drains: Complete remaining desilting works of all drains urgently within the next week.
6. Remove Debris: Clear debris along drains and remove any obstructions to free water flow in open drains.
7. Traffic Advisories: Traffic police to issue regular advisories and share waterlogging spots with relevant departments and the central control room.
8. Coordination with Haryana and Himachal Pradesh: I&FCD to regularly communicate with counterparts in these regions to assess rainfall levels and discharges from Hathnikund barrage.
9. Disaster Response Activation: Revenue department to activate the disaster response cell under DDMA in case of excessive rainfall.
10. NDRF Assistance: Seek assistance from NDRF for emergency measures during monsoons.
11. Power Safety Measures: Power department to ensure DISCOMS take preventive measures to avoid exposed wires prone to short circuits.
12. Bridge Maintenance: Chief Secretary to convene a meeting with bridge-owning agencies to clear floodplains and major drains of debris and construction waste.
13. Field Monitoring: Senior officers of municipal bodies and engineering departments to monitor critical locations in the field.
14. Leave Suspension: All senior officers on leave to report back immediately, and no leave to be sanctioned for the next two months.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team rescued four people following the collapse of an under-construction site on Friday. Heavy rains lashed Delhi, resulting in widespread water-logging, power outages in many residential colonies, and flooded roads, leading to traffic chaos across the city.
Express Photo by Abhinav Shaha
While rain provided a welcome break from the intense heat, it also resulted in waterlogging in a few areas of the city. Additionally, the rain resulted in waterlogging and traffic jams around the city. Numerous requests for waterlogging, road congestion and fallen trees were received by traffic police, causing inconvenience to commuters in various locations.